Travelogue Part Two – City of Seoul
A full day of walking around, sightseeing and shopping. In the morning I checked out the Gyeongbukgung Palace, the National Palace from the Joseon era. I was there in time to catch some of the guards in full costume changing around.
In the afternoon I walked down to Namdaemun Market – it’s filled to the brim with shops ready to fleece tourists like me of our money! The old brick-based market buildings remind me of Kuching, with its narrow alleyways and a bustling atmosphere. They sell everything from genuine (and fake) designer clothing, traditional wear, shoes, toys, souvenirs and so on. I must admit that I’m terrible at haggling and probably paid too much for the things I bought!
It’s been a great day of relaxed wandering, and exploring. I’ve definitely had lots of Brooke Fraser/”Deciphering Me” moments just standing in the middle of a massive intersection, neon lights everywhere – just missing the see-through umbrella!
Next on the itinerary, I’ll be off on a guided tour to the Korean demilitarized zone (DMZ), which should be a fascinating experience.
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